Let us first begin with a brief overview defining this disease. This is a form of cancer, which is known to develop in the lining around the lungs. Till a recent while ago, this disease was relatively unheard of outside medical circles in India. Most of the cases that are diagnosed now are because of the presence of malignant mesothelioma. This is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos, which doesn’t present itself with any symptoms whatsoever for several decades together.

The cases that doctors are encountering today are from way back in the 1970s, the 1960s, and in some rare instances, even from the 1950s. Given long gestation period, it becomes highly unlikely for cancer specialists in that era to have detected, let alone treated, this disease.

Mesothelioma is known to inflict patients in one of several forms since it is not always found along the lining in the lungs. On the other hand, the peritoneal variant is when the disease develops in the lining just over the abdominal organs. The third type of this cancer is known as pericardial, where it develops in the membrane that surrounds the an essential organ of the human body, the heart.

This disease is known to take a long time to incubate within the human body, before displaying any extrinsic symptoms whatsoever. In fact, this cancer is know to take between fifteen and twenty years to gestate, which is when the patient begins to exhibit symptoms of the damage these cancerous cells begin to cause while ravaging through the system.

For this very reason, doctors, along with the entire medical community, are concerned with the challenge that this disease poses when it comes to detection. Another problem stems from the fact that patients are not all that aware about the realities that come with this condition, and there don’t deem it necessary to consult their doctors in time.

If a patient conveys any history of asbestos exposure, doctors immediately begin to look for signs of this dreaded condition. The places they start looking in the human body are the tissues, the lining surrounding the lungs, heart and the stomach region. This process if quickly followed by a full, detailed physical examination to assist in determining the cause for the sufferer to complain in the first place. More often than not, this procedure will also include lung and chest x-rays, since majority complain of breathing problems of varying severity.

Next on the list would be a number of pulmonary procedure meant to test the sensitive area around the lungs. There is a good reason for that. Almost a third of the cases reported in India, have been shown to occur in the lining and tissue surrounding and along the lungs.

After this, follow up CAT scans and MRI tests are conducted, if the preliminary tests denoted a positive presence of these cancer cells. These tests are done in order to confirm (or refute) the presence of this disease. The results also help the medical professional to determine the nature, i.e. the exact size and location, of any tumors that may have developed from the underlying cancer.

In the following step, the doctor generally requests the patient to go in for a biopsy of the affected area. In this procedure, trained surgeons remove a piece of tissue from the region where the suspect the cancer to be growing. This sample is then tested further, which then finally reveals the type of tumor that the patient has.

A possible positive outcome would be when the tested tissue sample is found to contain benign tumor cells, as opposed to cancerous ones. While it may not be very comfortable for the patient, benign cells prove fatal is a small fraction of such cases.

• Physical examination

Similar to other serious diseases, the detection procedure here begins with a complete physical examination and a detailed walk-through the patient’s medical history. Since this condition is almost always caused after people breathe in some amount of asbestos, it is important that every patient provides a history in as much detail as possible. It is for the doctor to deduce whether the asbestos exposure can manifest itself as cancer, but it is of primary importance that patients do not withhold any information.

Post performing the physical, the doctor proceeds with subjecting patients to x-rays of the chest. In some cases, a pulmonary function test may be called for to determine whether the exhibited symptoms are consistent with malignant forms of this condition.

• CT Scans and MRIs

In most of these cases, CT scans and/or MRIs are called for. These results are essential to make a final diagnosis of the disease, along with its nature. Aspects like the exact size, location, and extent of damage from any tumors in the chest or abdomen, can be covered with CT scans and MRIs.

• Biopsy To Confirm Positive Detection

After all of the above mentioned steps for detection are completed, it it time to ascertain the exact name of the disease, and determine whether it is malignant, or benign. A biopsy is only conducted when the practitioner’s suspicions are verified from results of the previous tests. Following are some of the procedure involved to detect this cancerous growth in India:

1. Biopsy – is a procedure used by surgeons to obtain a sample of the tissue that they suspect is diseased. There are two methods most commonly used for collecting these tissue samples in India; thoracoscopy and bronchoscopy.
2. Thoracoscopy – is a procedure where a telescope-like instrument, that is connected to a video camera, is inserted into a small incision in the chest. This instrument is referred to as a thoracoscope, and it essential for the diagnosis of both, the pleural and pericardial types of mesothelioma in India.
3. Bronchoscopy – is a procedure that involves the insertion of a flexible lighted tube through the mouth of the patient, in his/her bronchi. Henceforth, a tissue sample is removed from the airway. Bronchoscopy is important for the correct diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in India.

It is quite rare for this “asbestos cancer” to be found benign. A malignant representation of this disease, in the form of a tumor that grows and expands to spread cancerous cells, has been found to be extremely fatal.

First, let’s take a look at the main types of malignant cells that exist:

• Epithelioid
• Sarcomatoid
• Mixed, or biphasic

Epithelioid is most commonly found in between 50-70% of cases, and fortunately, also has the highest survival rate. This particular type is know to affect the areas that around the internal organs in the human body.

On the other hand, Sarcomatoid, which is the more serious condition, is found to plague tissues such as bones, muscles, cartilage, and fat. While it is much rarer (found in only 7-20%), is has been found to have a dramatically higher fatality rate.

The third type of mixed, or biphasic cells, refers to the occurrence of both types of this cancer at the same time, and is found in around 20-35% of the cases.

Now that the types of cancerous cells have been discussed, it is important to observe the three main types of mesothelioma in India. The three main types of this disease, that affects different parts of the human body, are:

• Pleural mesothelioma

This is the type of cancer that affects the pleural sac that surround the lungs. This particular form of the disease is attributed to an estimated 75% of all the reported cases.

It is advisable to note that the presence of this condition is often mistaken for more common problems like pneumonia, common cold, the flu, and even bruised ribs.

• Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal is the type that is known to affect the thin-celled membrane called the peritoneum. The function of this membrane that surrounds the gastrointestinal tract, is to provide lubrication for the stomach and the intestines, enabling them to function efficiently. These components of the human system need to be able to move in order to properly digest food. A failure in this membrane can result in severe medical problems and complications.

The issue with the detection and diagnosis of the peritoneal variant is that it is known to be quite common to being confused with other, less serious diseases, which in turn is responsible for the abysmal mortality rate. This type is known to be found in approximately 10-20% of all patients.

• Pericardial mesothelioma

This is the rarest type malignant type of this disease. It affects an essential organ of the human body – the heart.

The heart, much like every other organ, requires proper lubrication in order to function properly consistently. That lubrication comes in the form of thin layers of mucous. This layer is known as the pericardium, which is the heart’s own protective sac. Asbestos exposure is responsible for the growth of cancerous cells here.

Common symptoms include shortness of breath, varying degrees of pain, coughing, heart palpitations, other problems related to the heart.

Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure ought to seek immediate medical assistance. The early detection of this condition can be extremely helpful to ensure that victims have a longer, healthier life.

This is the most commonly found type, with a percentage close to 75. It presents itself with the onset of the following symptoms:

• Persistent dry cough.
• Difficulty in swallowing food (also known as dysphagia).
• Unexplained fatigue, and tiredness.
• Coughing up of blood (also known as hemoptysis).
• Abrupt and unexplained weight loss.
• Appearance of lumps under the skin on the chest.

• Night sweats and/or fever.
• Sudden and unexplained weight loss.
• Anemia.
• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Swelling and pain in the abdominal region.
• Appearance of lumps under the skin above the abdomen.

• Heart palpitations.
• Pain in the chest.
• Difficulty in breathing, even while resting.
• General state of exhaustion and tiredness.
• Night sweats, which may be accompanied by fevers.

Asbestos exposure is recognized worldwide as the cause for this specific type of cancer. Asbestos is a silicate mineral that is formed in long, thin crystals. The use of this mineral was especially realized during the industrial revolution in the 19th century.

The very first documented dead caused by this material was in 1906. It wasn’t long before doctors began to notice certain trends between the mining for this mineral and the rising mortality rates.

Previously referred to as “Asbestosis”, the United States government was criticized for not caring to inform the general public about the hazards associated with exposure to it.

Once the fibers of this mineral is inhaled, the body could take years breaking it down into even smaller crystals, which may erupt into a cancer decades later.